1958 Map of Citadel Plateau

About this map

Citadel Plateau and the surrounding high desert of Northwest Colorado are defined by a complex network of draws and gulches in this late 1950s survey. The Yampa River carves through the northeastern corner near Juniper Canyon and Juniper Mtn, marking a distinct hydrological break from the more arid terrain to the south. Land use at the time centered on isolated ranching outposts such as Shelton Ranch and Sweeney Ranch, which were situated near seasonal water sources like Wolf Creek and Deception Creek. Evidence of mid-century industrial expansion is visible through the Pipeline crossing the northern tier and the Maudlin Gulch Oil Field in the southeast. These features, along with names like Wild Horse Ridge, reflect a landscape transitioning between traditional cattle ranching and the emerging energy economy of the era.